# S6E17 Scott Putnam | Invention, Licensing, and Venturing

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2025-04-25
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 17
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing

## Summary

Scott Putnam, founder of Inventor's Edge and inventor of the Swat-N-Scoop, discusses the divergent paths of licensing versus venturing for physical products. He highlights the common engineering trap of perfectionism, advising inventors to use 'good enough' prototypes to validate market interest before investing heavily in manufacturing. Putnam shares his personal journey of pivoting from a complex scoop design to a successful Amazon product, while offering strategies for navigating Amazon knockoffs and understanding patent claims.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [4:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=261) Engineering Mindset vs. Marketing Reality
- [7:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=431) Licensing vs. Venturing Strategies
- [12:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=744) The Swat-N-Scoop Product Journey
- [15:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=946) Amazon Knockoffs and Brand Registry
- [26:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=1576) Market Research and Validation Tools
- [34:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=2078) Patent Strategy and Independent Claims
- [39:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2025-04-25-s6e17-scott-putnam-invention-licensing-and-venturing#t=2340) Health, Wellness, and Inventor Support

## Topics

- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Inventor's Edge (company)
- Swat-N-Scoop (product)
- Amazon (company)
- Google Trends (tool)
- Perplexity (tool)
- LinkedIn (tool)
- Pipeline Design & Engineering (company)
- Simitech Group (company)
- ANSYS (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [116: How to Turn an Invention into a Product Business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-03-02-116-how-to-turn-an-invention-into-a-product-business) (Product Startup)
- [#044 - When not to start a startup - how to license your idea (Part 1), with Stephen Key of inventRight, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2017-12-20-044-when-not-to-start-a-startup-how-to-license-your-idea-part-1-with-stephen-key) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)
- [Introducing: It's only a Prototype Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/its-only-a-prototype/2025-04-09-introducing-its-only-a-prototype-podcast) (It's Only a Prototype)
- [125: Pitching Your Invention to Big Product Businesses](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-05-11-125-pitching-your-invention-to-big-product-businesses) (Product Startup)
- [#046 - When not to start a startup - how to license your idea (Part 2), with Stephen Key of inventRight, USA](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-hardware-entrepreneur/2018-01-17-046-when-not-to-start-a-startup-how-to-license-your-idea-part-2-with-stephen-key) (The Hardware Entrepreneur)

## Citing this page

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